This has two layers, please feel free to weigh in on either or both. Without giving too much information, I need to learn some programming to catch up a little with some colleagues or at least make it seem like I can keep up.

1. What programming language and/or operating systems do you recommend? I have no experience with Linux or ubuntu, but I know I will need to - where should I start? Please let me know what you (personally) use it for, if you use it regularly, or if you think I should avoid something.

2. What laptop do you recommend (assume budget is $1,500 or below). What should I look for. Do not recommend Dell, you will get neg modded (fair warning).

The dates for RTX 2017 are July 7-9. I will be applying to be a Guardian as I'm sure others will as well. I'm looking into shared lofts - I stayed in the Littlefield Lofts last year for about $30 a night because it was shared with a bunch of people. I think if we're going to go - we should go big!

Please post suggestions, Keeper Icons, resources, etc. and Kiwi will incorporate them into the design. The Family Crest will be the official Crest for the OCC, with variations for informal uses (e.g. patches, pins, etc.). I will update the image above (if I'm able) when significant edits have been made.

When discussing specific parts, please refer to the chart below for terminology:

[Link to Keeper Icon spreadsheet will be added here, when my computer is no longer sick]

I'm doing a penny war this weekend at the Zelda Symphony but I'm having a hard time trying to decide who the competitors will be.

In case you haven't heard of it, a penny war is a way of getting donations by having two (or more) containers "battle" against each other. Change is a vote by denomination in favor, bills are a vote in denomination against. For example, a quarter would be +25 points, but a dollar would be -100 points. We usually do Xbox vs PS, but PC usually ends up winning.

I have struggled with depression for about 12-15 years - just under half of my life. The last few weeks, though, the struggle has been a bit easier. It's been a while since it's been easier.

There will be times that you'll be low. Seriously low. Lower than you've ever felt and for no actual reason - just that your brain is telling you that you're low and you'll believe it. Those will be the times that you need to seek out help, seek out friends, or seek out family and those will the be times that it's hardest to do so.If you're in that low place, message me right now and talk as much or as little as you want. Just know that you are one step closer to not being low if you message me and that things will improve.

If you're not in that low place right now, make plans for if and when you ever get there. Make a list or a plan of things to do if you feel low and make sure to put it somewhere visible so that if and when you do get low, it will be there and you will have the tools necessary to get out of it.

Right now, for me, I'm high. I'm not on drugs, I'm at a life high. I've had a very busy last two weeks at my job because we're getting a new client, I've had a few recent career successes and my personal life has taken a sharp turn into the positive. I'm at a great place in my life, and I know that it's because I'm conquering my depression. I'm not saying I won't have low days, but I am saying that I've pulled myself out of the low days and I know that I'm winning. Every day that I Always Keep Fighting, every day that I Keep Moving Forward, I'm winning.

I've been smiling and laughing and appreciating more around me for the last couple of weeks. I'm winning.

I'm making plans for my future and acknowledging my current and past successes. I'm winning.

I'm reminding myself that I can handle things that cross my path and things that are out of my control. I'm winning.

Some statistics on this GIGANTIC piece of paper (yes, the hammer is a normal-sized hammer):

It takes two tests to be a Registered/Professional Geologist, each are 3.5 hours long.

Exam material can cover all four years of undergraduate geology, anything that a geologist would learn in the field in five years of work, and anything theoretical that has come out in those nine years. And you thought your cumulative finals were bad...

Calculus is not required, but advanced trigonometry is, in addition to algebra and geometry. I'm glad I had calculus before going into it, though.

Pass/Fail rates for my exam class: first exam (Fundamentals): 65%; second exam (Practice of Geology): 47%. The Practice of Geology pass/fail rate after FOUR ATTEMPTS is still only 70%. I passed both on the first try. ^_^

Having this means that I can out-rule any non-RG/PG on anything in my subject field - regardless of their education or experience. Part of having the certification, though, is practicing ethical science and with great power comes great responsibility.

More than anything, I'm just glad I got it over with and can move on to bigger and better things. Like maybe a raise... ;)

If there isn't some super secret bi-law restraining you from doing so, can you give me some details on your job? I saw the description and was just like 'I NEED TO KNOW MORE!', it sounds really cool!

Answered: Feb 5, 2016

Thanks for the question. I work for an environmental law firm, and half of us are lawyers, half of us are scientists. We do things like Erin Brockovich (if you don't know who she is, there's a movie for that called Erin Brockovich), but we actually know what we're doing. If you want to know more. I'm happy to answer! :)

They are for me, and I would be in a huge bind if they weren't because I'm helping run the RT Community Secret Santa so I'm managing dozens of inbox messages right now. Thanks for letting me know, though just in case!

I dunno, the new notifications are weird. It said you posted something on my profile and mentioned me so Im like, well thats weird. Anyways, that sucks. Would be kinda funny if that happened for professional sports though. Like, I dunno, its the super bowl and one team is just one guy

No mods

gi_gokuFIRST Member Star(s)Indication of membership status - One star is a FIRST member, two stars is Double Gold
Keeper of Tacos

cwin90FIRST Member Star(s)Indication of membership status - One star is a FIRST member, two stars is Double Gold
BaDumTiss

2 years ago

Hey! We were thinking for our challenge to you guys to play Smite on the Xbox One. We were thinking next Thursday night(11/12 7pm cst or later). Would you be able to do that or do we need to figure out a different time?

rachyrockFIRST Member Star(s)Indication of membership status - One star is a FIRST member, two stars is Double Gold
Goddess of Noms

3 years ago

Happy Warm Fuzzies Day, Kiwi! I hope you've had a lovely day! You were one of the first friends I made in the community, and I appreciate all of your help coordinating the Secret Santa, I know it must not have been easy! Stay awesome!

Hi there, I was cruising through an account when I saw a comment of yours about an RT Scientist group? One of my majors was EMT (and a Pharmacy Tech certificate) so I just wanted to say that I think that's a really cool idea to have that kind of group here! :D

Thanks for the question. I work for an environmental law firm, and half of us are lawyers, half of us are scientists. We do things like Erin Brockovich (if you don't know who she is, there's a movie for that called Erin Brockovich), but we actually know what we're doing. If you want to know more. I'm happy to answer! :)